Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 16, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke signs new whitewater river rafting safety law

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today signed legislation that gives new safety protection to people taking commercial whitewater rafting trips. The new law for the first time requires river rafting outfitters to be licensed by the state and requires them to meet minimum safety and training standards before being granted a license to take customers on whitewater rafting trips.


"This law will save lives by providing a reasonable level of customer safety," Locke said. "I personally want to thank Barbara and Brian Brunner for raising our awareness about the need for river rafting safety standards so we can prevent the kind of tragedy they have endured with the death of their son." Locke said.


Locke signed Senate Bill 5483 into law flanked by the Brunners and Lorrie Johnson, whose husband died in 1994 along with the Brunners'12-year-old son on a church-sponsored rafting trip. Until now, there were few state laws defining safe whitewater rafting practices or requiring compliance with any training standards.


The new law requires whitewater guides to complete a 50-hour training program, which includes lessons on equipment; boat rigging; reading river characteristics; scouting and running rapids; river rescue techniques and communicating with clients. The training standards will take effect on Jan. 1, 1998.


A state-licensed guide must also complete at least one trip on an entire section of a river before carrying paying passengers on any section of the river. Instructors who train whitewater guides must have traveled at least 1,500 river miles, half of them as a guide.


"We have waited three years for this day," said Brian Brunner. "Our joy is tempered by our loss. But if somebody else's child is saved because of our efforts, it will be a fitting memorial to Ryan."

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